August 11-12 at Rogers Park in Sparta

Are you looking for some fun, family entertainment? Interested in good food and good brews? Love Irish and Scottish music, dance and history? Or maybe you’ve just always wanted to run a 5K in a kilt? The 8th annual Sparta Celtic Festival has a little something for everyone!

The 2017 festival kicks off Friday, August 11, at Rogers Park, 75 N. Union in Sparta, and runs from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and reopens Saturday, August 12, from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The festival continues to exceed growth expectations, and this year they added the nationally known touring act “The Moxie Strings,” to their full entertainment lineup, and added a new “Snap Fitness, 5K KILTED Fun Run & Walk” this year.

Friday night’s Festival Preview opens at 5 p.m. with access to the new “Splash Pad” at Rogers Park and the festival grounds, which includes a beverage tent, food vendors, Celtic shops and even a 1500’s Mercenaries Historic Encampment.

Entertainment on The Kent Equipment Main Stage begins with the area’s favorite Irish Group, “The Conklin Ceili Band,” at 6PM, followed by local Irish Dancers from Scoil Rince Ní Bhraonáin, and finishing up with an energetic performance at 7:45 from The Moxie Strings. The group has recently appeared at the Meijer Gardens Amphitheater and been seen at Festivals all over America.

On Saturday, the fun begins early with the “Inaugural, Snap Fitness, 5K KILTED Fun Run & Walk.” Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the Main Stage with kilted participants getting $5 off their entry fee! Also returning to the Festival this year is a Rugby Tournament at Balyeat Field and the very popular Highland Games on the Festival grounds.

A full day of Celtic entertainment on four separate stages begins at 11:00 a.m. with Irish Dancers (one of 6 different dance groups on Saturday,) and ends with two incredible Rock style acts later in the evening. Local favorites “Hazard” will be performing on the ChoiceOne Bank Street Stage beginning around 8 p.m., and Detroit’s “Stone Clover,” the Midwest’s hottest Irish rock show, closes out the night on the main stage beginning at 8:30 p.m. In between, there will be 12 other musical acts, a Giant Leprechaun emcee, two “Kilted Magician Shows,” a bagpipe band, a tribute to a Fallen Soldier, a wandering Scottish Clown, and “Celtic Kilroy,” the living statue! All of this, for free!

The Sparta Celtic Festival remains one of the largest “free entry” Cultural festivals in Michigan thanks to the generous support of many great sponsors and with the help of a small army of volunteers. Besides the music and dance acts on stage, there will be a new Cultural Tent on the grounds, Irish Language Lessons, Irish Set and Ceili Dance Instructions, traditional Irish Music Sessions, Clan tents, a “Mercenaries of the 1500’s” encampment, and children’s activities with a Celtic twist.

Celtic gifts, food and drink are all available on both Friday and Saturday, as well as a craft fair on Saturday only. New to our “Cellar Brewing Co. Beverage Tent,” and especially with the kids in mind, are “Craft Soft Drinks” from Detroit City Soda” on tap. Also back at the festival are “The Whiskey Guys,” with samplings of both Irish whiskey and Scotch whisky.

So, the Sparta Celtic Festival continues to grow, continues to be free to enter, and remains very family Friendly.

What’s not to love about that? Even if you are not Irish, Scottish, Welsh, or any of the other four Celtic Nations, there is something you should enjoy about a free day of great cultural entertainment at a beautiful park in downtown Sparta, Michigan! See the complete entertainment schedule below.